Following Peter Capaldi's announcement to bow out from "Doctor Who" after its tenth series which concluded in July, rumors have been making rounds at the potential casting of an actress to play the role of Time Lord for the Christmas special of the BBC program.
The 59-year-old actor shocked his fans when he confirmed that he will be leaving the show after three years of playing the titular role. Capaldi thought it was time to move on from his "Doctor Who" character and forge a new path for his acting career. "You have to be aware of when it’s time to move on," he said.
The Scottish artist admitted he was asked to continue his journey with the BBC series. He, however, turned down the offer and returned to his initial decision to take on new challenges outside TARDIS.
First female lead in 'Doctor Who' series
On Sunday, BBC confirmed that the titular role will be played by a female cast for the first time in the history of the long-running show. The upcoming "Doctor Who" will feature Jodie Whittaker as Time Lord, making her the 13th actor to play the title role since the series premiered in November 1963.
According to the BBC, the 35-year-old actress said she is "beyond excited" to start her "Doctor Who" journey. Whittaker confessed the project is personally special to her as she considers herself a feminist and an actress who does not want to limit herself in her craft.
The TV and radio personality also asked the "Doctor Who" fans not to view her gender as a scary turnabout for the series, but rather an exciting opportunity to offer a new approach for the long-running BBC show.
Get to know the newest actor to incarnate the Doctor
Whittaker's casting came after the BBC series appointed Chris Chibnall as its new showrunner.
The new "Doctor Who" boss has previously worked with the actress in "Broadchurch" where she appeared as Beth Latimer in 24 episodes. In a statement, the new showrunner admitted that he had been eyeing to cast a female artist to play the role until the English actress auditioned to be the next Time Lord.
"Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away," Chibnall said, describing the "in-demand" actress as "funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature" who is expected to offer a fresh look for the iconic character, the BBC reported.
Her film credits include "Venus (2006)," "Black Sea (2014)" and "Adult Life Skills (2015)." She is also known for her roles in "Marchlands (2011)," "The Assets (2014)" and "The Smoke (2014)." Whittaker was even commended by Capaldi, who specifically lauded her for her talent in acting.
